Let's Make Love

Little Buddy

Let's Make Love

NRC 010

1958

James B. McKnight (Little Buddy)  was born in Durham, N.C., in 1943.   This is his first record, probably brought to NRC by John C. Greene, Jr., a Durham, North Carolina radio station manager (WSRC) and record label owner (Joy Records).  Buddy McKnight relocated later to Orlando, Florida and had two singles released by the local Pine Hills Records (1967-1968)

In the mid-sxities, he played organ for the Mighty Dee-Jays, a band formed by Jimmy (Dee) Dudley (see sirshambling). 

He died in 1996.  According to his obit, McKnight moved to Central Florida in 1969. and was a truck driver for a cement company, He was a member of St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church. Survivors were : wife, Georgia; son, Corey, Orlando; daughters, April Henson, Orlando, Dee, Ocala; five grandchildren. 

James Benjamin McKnight

Disc-Jockey Twist

Pat Butler

Disc-Jockey Twist

S. Hodge-W. Harrison

The Y plus X Publ. BMI

Bargain 5005

1962

Bargain Records owner was Steven Hodge, a short, restless West Indian businessman, owner of Atomic Music Company, which installed and repaired jukeboxes around New York City in barbershops, restaurants and candy stores.  He also owned a real estate company called Global Realty at 275 West 125th Street, just below the Apollo, on the second floor.

Co-writer W. Harrison is indeed Wilbert Harrison  the two-hit wonder known for his 1959 chart-topper "Kansas City" and a heartwarming "Let's Work Together" a full decade later.

The Joker

Bobby Bunny And The Jackrabbits

The Joker

Zane-Pines-Owens, Jimskip Music Inc.
Arrow Records #714

1957
............

Composers of this sax instrumental are Herb Zane, Lee Pines and Kelly Owens.   If we believe the short bio printed on the flip side ("Scatty Cat"), Bobby Bunny was a 23 year old Tenor Sax man who hailed from Baton Rouge, La.   Although he started his professional career at the early age of 15, it wasn't until his discharge from U.S.A.F. in 1954 that he began to really swing.  Bobby Bunny and The Jackrabbits first record on any label, and also the last, I think.

Season's Greetings

The Lennon Sisters

Merry Christmas From Our House To Your House

Season's Greetings from your Dodge Dealer and Lawrence Welk

This is my pleasure to be the very first to wish you a Merry Christmas, courtesy of The Lennon Sisters,  and your Dodge dealer too.   And also of Lawrence Welk, even  he didn't doing much, except maybe scratching his nose or other parts.

Make Every Day You Drive A Holiday

You'll never know what real enjoyment driving can be until you put a Swept-Wing 58 by Dodge through its paces.  You'll relax in the smooth road-hugging superiority of its exclusive Torsion-Aire suspension.  You'll appreciate the unmatched ease and convenience of famous Dodge Püsh-Button transmissions.  You'll drive with greater confidence and assurance with the added safety of Dodge Total-contact Brakes and the alert responsiveness of Constant-Control Power Sterring.  And there's an extra measure of satisfaction in knowing that this fresh Swept-Wing styling will set the place for years to come.

 

Amen

Rock And Roll Wedding

 

Bixie Crawford

How Big A Fool

Rock And Roll Wedding

Empire Records 45-102
1956

"Rock And Roll Wedding" was also recorded the same year by Helen Grayco (Vik Records), Ella Mae Morse (Capitol Records) and Sunny Gale (RCA Victor Records). 

Bixie Crawford was born Birdie Marjorie Hairston in 1921 in Guthrie, seat of the Logan County, in north-central Oklahoma just to the north of Oklahoma City.     She attended Fisk and Lincoln Universities, where she majored in music, studying the piano, the alto sax, and the congas. Benny Carter heard her singing at a picnic in a park one day and hired her the next day.

After about a year in Carter's band, she worked in the Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra shortly before the leader died in 1947.

She did three months with Count Basie and gigged with Louis Jordan in 1949-1950, then became a schoolteacher in Los Angeles. When Count Basie reestablished his big band in 1951, she was invited to join and remained with him for about three years. 

Bixie Crawford recordings can also be found on Exclusive (with Buddy Banks orchestra, 1946), King (1949), RCA (1951), United (1953), C Note (1956) and Indigo (1960).

In the early sixties, she returned to school teaching.  She was then known as Bixie Crawford Wyatt.  She died in 1988 in Culver Cirty, California.

As Bixie Harris, she recorded "Patience and Fortitude" (a vocal duet with the leader) on 

Benny Carter's January 5, 1946 record date for DeLuxe (which took place in New York City).

 

 

Bixie Crawford, 1953